Eskom slammed for keeping quiet about shutdown of both Koeberg units
The power utility acknowledged the shutdown only after it was exposed in the media, says energy analyst Chris Yelland.
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Stephen Grootes interviews Chris Yelland, MD of EE Business Intelligence.
Eskom has come under fire for not announcing that both units of Koeberg have apparently been offline at the same time.
The power utility finally admitted the shutdown after it was being exposed in the media and public domain, charges energy analyst Chris Yelland.
He said the admission came five days after Koeberg Unit 1 was shut down due to a fault on Wednesday last week, at the same time that Unit 2 was also offline.
"Coming five days after Unit 1 went offline while Unit 2 is offline too shows a complete lack of transparency, and a level of contempt for the interests and concerns of the public by Eskom and the National Nuclear Regulator."
Chris Yelland, MD - EE Business Intelligence
In conversation with Stephen Grootes, Yelland emphasises that after information was virtually forced from Eskom thanks to persistence by the media, this was still 'very thin'.
'It looks more to me like self-serving spin rather than solid information to the public', he says.
@Eskom_SA FINALLY admits in classic spin:
— Chris Yelland (@chrisyelland) September 16, 2024
Koeberg Unit 1 was conservatively and safely shutdown on Wednesday 11 September 2024 after one of the isolation/block valves failed its three monthly routine test. The unit was shutdown in order to restore redundancy of the steam…
A likely reason for Eskom having been so careful are some recent high-profile nuclear events, according to Yelland.
Energy and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa hosted a Nuclear Seminar in Tshwane earlier this month, and is also this week leading SA’s participation at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Conference in Vienna, Austria.
"As far as I'm aware, no mention was made of the fact that Koeberg's two units were shut down (at either event)..."
"This is the whole of Koeberg - 1 800 megawatts, that's a massive story. If, for example, 2 000 MW of renewable energy was out of service (the top 20 solar PV or wind farms) due to a breakdown, that would be international news."
"The fact that this was kept quiet until the media forced the issue I think reflects very poorly not only on Eskom, but on the DMRE and the new Energy and Electricity Minister and also the National Nuclear Regulator."
Chris Yelland, MD - EE Business Intelligence
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